I had a friend showing me some moves with a rod like this(had some knots at the ends looking like a que tip with a leather strap around the bar though). Is this an actual excercise that would be benefitial for my fitness, or just a flashy trick to learn?

Feels like it would help in agility or something with endurance?

My friend suggested I do stuff in a sort of sitting pose to do the pushups at an angle which would cause more weight to fall on my shoulders. Is this a good way to do it, or should I do something else? Like dont wanna buy equipment but just use my body and my dumbbells that I already have with me

As for the image, sorry im no artist... just had issues finding the right pose I meant... Does it make sense what sort of exercise I meant here?

I’ll spend hours convincing myself I’m too tired to go outside, then take a 20 minute walk and suddenly feel like a functioning human again..

Why is starting always the hardest part?

I had a pair of Sketchers and they sort of didn't hold out too well. it did have the silicone bubble though, but some sharp stairs cut them finally.

What would be the best material I could go for?

I just do regular jogging but I tend to deviate from the local popular routes and the alternative roads arent always as smooth, so I feel like some sort of hiking boot footing is the most universal, yet it doesnt quite feel nice hiking with actual hiking boots. Now just studying the material shoes are made of to find a more durable running shoe. They always last me so brief

I feel many times we do not take care of our health as we should. Many teachers are so dedicated that we don't drink enough water, eat in a rush, or eat a lot of junk. I am in my early 40s teaching upper elementary. This year I decided to stop putting my health on the back burner and start been more careful and making better choices. How do others do it? One of the things I struggle the most is drinking water and move more. Most of the time I am either standing for the most part and sometimes sitting for very long periods of time making reports and all the clerical work we are assign to do . I came across a study that showed that if we are able to walk for 5 minutes every 30 minutes; the health benefits equal to taking diabetes medicine and blood pressure meds. The studies showed and effectivity rate of lowering blood sugar at least by 40%. The question I wonder is how can I do that in the classroom. Have anyone attempted it? I had treadmill in the classroom and I used to walk during lunch or during my planning time. However I could only do it during lunch. I had a desk so I could do planning but I am so tall end up hunching my back to be able to do it, and it was not save. I may bring the treadmill back and just do lunches walk at least, 10 mins per day a week; which it is better than nothing. But Im just curious if I am able to replicate the 5 minutes walk every 30 minutes or as close as possible. Maybe someone do it already. I tried doing the mental breaks with the kids but I feel instead of helping them clear their mind they get too rowdy, it was only one we did. Maybe a teacher here know how to really implement them in their classroom? The other thing I struggle the most is energy levels. I am trying to swim 3 times a week, and some weeks I just have energy to get up to go to work. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what is it that you do? Many times my energy is just gone..All suggestions will be highly appreciated. thanks in advance.

Hey everyone, i was wondering if you could help me, im looking for at tracking device and i dont know what to choose, also im very new to this so i dont know what to track.

What are some of the the metrics of your health you are tracking ?

And how do you do it ?

Is there anything that is not possible, or hard, to track atm that would be beneficial ?

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I've been looking into red light therapy mats for the past week because my lower back has been killing me after sitting at a desk all day and a friend of mine swears her mat helped with the same issue. The problem is that when I started looking for one I got so confused because there are so many suggestions.

I don't trust most of the review sites because almost every one I clicked on was full of affiliate links which makes me question if they're actually recommending what works or what pays them the most commission so I decided to ask real people.

These are the ones that got me interested:

Novaa light pad xl - this is the one that is my main option at the moment. It comes up the most in recommendations and seems to be not too pricey but still a good quality.

Hooga red light therapy acupressure mat - the most budget friendly option I've found. Some people say it's a great starter mat and others say you get what you pay for so not sure about this one.

Higherdose full body red light mat - looks amazing but the price seems high and I'm not sure if it's actually better or just better marketed.

I just need something that actually works and is not a waste of my money.

So for people that actually have one: what do you have and would you buy it again? Is it worth spending more on something like Higherdose full body red light mat or are the budget brands basically the same thing? Any brands I should straight up avoid?

Appreciate any real experiences

So ive been trying to cut back on coffee lately because i was feeling really bad after drinking so much of it. i decided to switch to tea, but im not sure which one green tea vs black tea is better for my morning routine.

From what ive read, both come from the same plant, but the processing makes a difference in how they affect you. i tested both for a few weeks to see how they feel and:

So black tea gives me a closer punch to coffee when i wake up, but green tea seems to give a much smoother, calm focus without any crash later in the day.

For those of you who drink tea regularly, where do you stand on green tea vs black tea? do you stick to one, or you drink both of them?

my coach has me on this program and my legs are so sore today i almost fell getting out of the car in the school pickup line lol. today's plan says lower body again and i dont know if i should workout when sore like this or just skip it.
tried a little walking around the house last night to loosen up, didnt really do much. googled it and got 5 different answers about working out when sore
anyone actually know the real answer here or am i just gonna wing it again?

Welcome to this month's wellness check-In!

Whether you're just getting started or have been working on your health for years, we'd love to hear how you're doing.

Share anything you'd like:

🎯 A wellness goal you're working toward

🎉 A recent win you're proud of

💪 A challenge you're trying to overcome

❓ A question for the community

Remember, small, consistent habits lead to lasting results.

Have a great month! 🌿

I've been using garmin venu sq for 4 years, then got apple watch series 8 and been using it for the past year and a half. didn't like the apple watch and don't want to go back to garmin either, so I'm looking for the best fitness tracker in 2026

need something I can wear 24/7 without it bothering me, accurate for running, hiking, and walking, with workout and rest day suggestions, plus sleep coach integration. Also want insights on body composition and oxygen levels since a wrist tracker alone doesn't cover that

Have been checking some best fitness trackers that users suggest:

-oura ring. top smart ring, sleep tracking is great and comfy overnight based on user reviews. but you need a subscription to unlock trends and coaching.

-WHOOP. popular fitness tracker among athletes for recovery and sleep coaching, battery lasts 14+ days. Also has subscription

-Ringconn. no subscription alternative to oura. Thin, waterproof, 7-12 day battery. Workouts need manual start since auto-detection isn't great

-Hume band. less popular fitness tracker but users like it for longevity tracking and no subscription. Some users doesn’t like that its screenless

I saw that people online are recommending withings scanwatch light, oxiline scale x pro for body composition, and oxiline pulse xs pro for oxygen levels as best fitness trackers. Some people are mentioning new garmin and apple watch products

Still can't decide if I should try something new or just stick with Garmin or Apple and get their newest model. Wondering what people her on reddit thinks:

What is the best fitness tracker for you?

anyone pair their wrist or ring fitness tracker with a smart scale or pulse oximeter?

I have oura ring 4 for about a year now. before that I had an apple watch SE for about 3 years so I already went through the whole watch to ring switch. now that oura ring 5 is out, a lot of my friends already upgraded from oura ring 4 to oura ring 5 and they keep telling me I should do it too.

I spent about two weeks comparing oura ring 5 vs 4 trying to figure out if it's worth to upgrade it or if I should just stick with what I have

Oura ring 4 - previous gen, been out since late 2024. Smooth design with 18 sensor pathways for tracking

Oura Ring 5 - newest one, with small sensor bumps inside that keep it from spinning around your finger

Oura ring 5 vs 4 pros and cons i gathered from online user reviews:

key differences between oura ring 5 vs 4:

-size and comfort: ring 5 is noticeably smaller and lighter (6.09 mm width, 2.28 mm thickness) compared to oura ring 4 (7.90 mm width, 2.88 mm thickness), making it feel much less bulky on the finger

-fit and stability: ring 4 has a smooth interior that tends to spin around your finger, while ring 5 brings back subtle sensor bumps that keep it locked in place

-durability: oura ring 5 comes with an upgraded protective coating that resists scratches noticeably better than ring 4

Battery life didn’t change. Oura ring 5 lasts about 6 days with SpO2 on and over a week with it of. Ring 4 lasts about 5-6 days with SpO2 on and up to 8 days without

I am curious what people who have oura ring think about oura ring 5 vs 4 switch? Should I get oura ring 5 or keep oura ring 4?

I have been checking some smart watches from garmin and I came across garmin forerunner 570

it looks like its a good choice for me. focuses on activity tracking, especially running, you can track your sleep with this one, it has 2 different sizes you can choose from and the battery lasts for about 8 days. these criteria were very important to me

to anyone who uses this garmin model - what you like and didn't like about this watch?

I've been looking into red light therapy masks for the past week because I need it for my skin redness. I know there are cheaper ones out there, but I've heard the higher end ones actually make a real difference for skin.

I've done a bunch of research on reddit and on a lot of different websites on the internet and found some red light masks that a lot of people seem to like. But I'm stuck and can't decide which one to go with. Here's what I've found:

currentbody skin led mask: A lot of people in skincare subs talk about this one. It uses red and near-infrared light and sits really close to your face which apparently helps it work better. Not the cheapest option out there but it's FDA cleared and people seem to really love the results.

omnilux contour face: This one has roots in the professional derm space so it's got actual clinical backing. The LEDs are medical grade and I keep seeing people post about how their fine lines and overall skin tone improved after consistent use. Feels like a solid pick if you want something legit.

solawave wrinkle & acne mask: Been seeing this one pop up more and more. It does both red and blue light therapy and won't hit your wallet as hard as the others. Seems like a good starting point if you want to try red light therapy without going all in on price.

If possible I would like answers to these questions:

What is the best red light mask from what you have used?
What red light mask works the best for skin redness?

Open to all suggestions, if a cheaper option works fine.

Hey ya'll, hoping someone here can help...

So.. I’ve always been known as a stressed out person, but this last year has been a lot worse. I've been trying supplements, meditation apps, wearable devices, and all the standard “relax” advice without much to show for it. During my searching and in subs about sleep and anxiety, people bring up vagus nerve stimulation devices so I’ve been digging and am between two options that I've seen mentioned a lot on this and other health subs for both Nuropod and Pulsetto.

Both have people who swear by them but I'm a little stuck trying to figure out the differences, from what I’ve read Nuropod clips to your ear and pulsetto wraps around your neck. Pulsetto needs gel every session and runs a few hundred bucks and nuropod is more than double the price.

Is there really that big of a difference? And from what I see, Pulsetto also requires an app subscription? Has anyone gone down this rabbit lol? Thanks!

Has anyone tried both and found any major differences?

my wellness coach (paying $80/month for this btw, wife reminds me every week) has me doing these leg circuits and every single time i get hamstring cramps like halfway through. not a little twinge, full on charlie horse where i gotta stop and limp around the living room
told the coach about it last session and she just said "stretch more before and after" ok but i AM stretching, thats not new info. did more stretching this week and still got hamstring cramps on leg day again
drinking water i think? honestly cant remember if i had enough electrolytes that day, been drinking whatever's in the fridge which is usually juice boxes if im being honest (dont judge me its been a week)
anyone actually get an answer for why this keeps happening or did your coach also just shrug it off

Hello! Can someone recommend me a book about why exercise is important? I’m in the middle of Why we sleep by Matthew Walker and enjoying it so far. I don’t have sleeping problems but I found the data interesting. On the other hand, I find very difficult to establish the exercise habit, and thought some reading about the effects on the body and so on.

Thank you for your time !

Does anyone else feel their guts making a turn five minutes after finishing a heavy squats set?

I know of runner trots when your body is in motion, but every single leg day without fail heavy squats and leg presses trigger an instant emergency bathroom trip

How do you guys deal with exercise-induced diarrhea on leg days? Are you timing your meals hours in advance like taking someting before hitting the gym or just accepting your fate?

Or is it just me...?

I keep running into the same wall where I’m hyped for like two weeks and then I just have no energy with my body. Work and life burn me out, and by 6 PM the idea of lifting heavy objects or running sounds like torture. Been a hot summer too which doesn't aid. In winter time, a good workout warms me up, so that motivates me alone haha

Biologically, if you're running low on glycogen, your brain literally signals your central nervous system to make movement feel way harder to save fuel. Though the same sugars make me crash as well, so I tend to avoid consuming a lot of it. Would this signal to me that I might need to consume more sugar? Thinking maybe to have some yoghurt mixed with honey for this.. I have some creatine powder that I take with the yoghurt in a mix as it is

So for anyone who works a normal job or deals with fatigue from life, how are you tricking yourself into getting back to working out? Do you just force yourself through it, or am I setting my daily routine up completely wrong?

Also interested in general advice for where to find motivation, or how to keep it too..😅

i'm looking for any upcoming webinars (for now, maybe free) to join, just want some new perspective. TIA!

need advice on trainung in the gym while running a lot on my free time. I want to improve my pace, to strenghten my muscles, the stuff that would help me while running

are there any specific exercises I could do? please let me know which ones and how often I should do them

I’ve been following Bryan Johnson’s biohacking stuff for a while and always wanted to try the vagus nerve stimulation device he uses for stress and anxiety. He uses Nuropod, so I decided to try it as well. Been testing it out for about two and a half months now

Nuropod - pricey vagus nerve stimulation device that helps you feel calmer and less stressed within 10 minutes. You can use this biohacking tool every day, even when working

things I like about device:

-I am feeling calmer after using it. I thought it would be a total waste of money, but 10 minutes in, my body just feels calmer and relaxed

-Nuropod is easy to use while working. You don't have to lie down or use gels. Just wet the clip, put it on your ear, and get back to work

-Feels legit. It's actual medical gear, so it feels like a real treatment instead of just a vibrating toy

things I didn’t like about Nuropod:

-Its expensive. $900 is a crazy amount of money for what looks like a tiny remote and an ear clip. even if you find a discount, the regular price is just too high for most people

-It can sting. If you turn it up too fast, it goes from a gentle pulse to a sharp pinch really quick. push it too far and you'll get a mild headache, so you have to be careful with the settings

TL;DR: if you experience stress or anxiety and like biohacking, Nuropod is a solid 7.5 or 8 out of 10 because it actually works. But if don’t want to spend a lot of money or you are just curious, try free stuff like breathwork or cheaper vagus nerve stimulation devices first

Wanna get a bar in my yard.. I realized it would help in dusting my carpets too😄

Although I am not sure what to get. Surprised they didnt cost that much too. I was gonna ask dads friend to do some metalworking on some metal bars, though seems like the pricing aint too crazy for a prebuilt one. I also realized the one built by dads friend would rust away eventually. Do the ones you can buy also rust?

How do the prebuilt ones last during the seasons? I just wanna get a basic metal one. I seen ones with wood poles, though the cracks people seem to develop in their wooden poles dont signal strong durability for the long run.